Control valve for recuperator mechanisms



H. C. ZIMMERMAN CONTROL VALVE FOR RECUPERATOR Mscmmsms Filed Nov. 27, 1926 L-l I-Ll: Zimmar'rrx aJ-L w A My Patented May 10, 1927.

HARRY C. ZIMMERMAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CONTROL VALVE FOR RECUPERATOR MECHANISMS.

Application filed November 27, 1926. Serial No. 151,217.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT 01 MARCH 3, 1883; 22 STAT. L. 625.)

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any of itsotlicers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment to me of any royalty thereon, in accordance with the act of March 3, 1883.

This invention relates to control valves for recuperator mechanisms.

In recuperator mechanisms of the hydropneumatic type, the retarding influence is exercised by means of a liquid which is obliged to pass through an orifice whose size is diminished as the movement proceeds, thereby checking the recoiling mass. The liquid acts through a floating piston to coinpress a gas whose expansive force is utilized to restore the gun to battery.

Since the recoil stroke may be shortened at the higher elevations without impairing stability of the mount and since it is convenient to reduce the length of recoil in order to avoid the digging of a hole in the ground, control valves operated by elevation of the gun have been introduced into the recuperator mechanism for reducing the size of the throttling orifice.

Because of the pressure maintained in the recuperator mechanism automatic valves are subject to frequent derangement and accord ingly it is the object of this invention to provide a positive, simple, and readily accessible manually controlled valve for varying the size of the throttling orifice.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is afragmentary view in longitudinal section of a recuperator cylinder provided with a control valve constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

The recuperator cylinder 10 contains the floating piston 11 which separates the liquid chamber 12 from the gas chamber 13. The liquid which is forced'from the recoil cylinder (not shown) during recoil of the gun passes through openings 14 in a regulator body 15 whence it unseats the valve 16 against the action of the spring 17 one end of which seats on a block 18 securedto the regulator body. The liquid is then free to- 19 and adapted to be closed by a valve 22 threaded as at 23 in the block and extend ing through the recuperator cylinder where it receives a handle 24. Any suitable means for showing the position of the valve may be provided.

In the present application when the valve 22 is open a recoil stroke of 46 inches is obtained while when the valve is closed the recoil stroke is reduced to 30 inches. The present structure lends itself admirably for replacement of the non-variable throttling devices in existing recuperator mechanisms.

I claim:

1. A recuperator including a cylinder. a floating piston within the cylinder provided with a throttling bar, a block within the cylinder provided with a throttling orifice and a by-pass and a valve extending through the cylinder and block for opening or closing the bypass.

2. A recuperator including a cylinder, a floating piston within the cylinder provided with a throttling bar, a block within the cylinder provided with a throttling orifice, and

an auxiliary manually controlled valve mechanism in the block.

HARRY C. ZIMMERMAN 

